2019 Rugby World Cup: All Blacks captain Kieran Read in the gun for neck tackle against Springboks

Kieran Read's alleged head-high tackle on Pieter-Steph du Toit during Saturday's Rugby World Cup match. Video / Spark Sport

A South African rugby critic is turning the heat on All Black captain Kieran Read, accusing him of a "clear professional foul around the neck".

But it's brought a divided reaction from Springbok fans, some of whom say it paints them as bad losers. One points out that the Springboks got away with high tackles on Ardie Savea.

Journalist Brenden Nel, who has a strong Twitter following, has questioned why World Rugby didn't cite Read from the lineout incident in the opening game at Yokohama.

Wonder what the @allblacks say about this? Clear professional foul, around the neck, nowhere near the ball? Will @worldrugby do anything? Probably just bury their heads in the sands. It's their all blacks after all... https://t.co/yU8ynC3ZNN

— Brenden Nel (@BrendenNel) September 22, 2019

In the 45th minute, Springbok flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit attempts to tackle halfback Aaron Smith after the All Blacks win a lineout.

But Read impedes du Toit with a coat hanger type tackle around the neck area, with the big Springboks flanker ending up on the deck.

TV footage showing Kieran Read's tackle on Pieter-Steph du Toit. Photo / Supplied

"Wonder what the All Blacks say about this?," tweets Nel.

"Probably just bury their heads in the sand. It's their All Blacks after all."

But a Springbok supporter reckoned there were neck high tackles on All Black Ardie Savea that went unpunished in the match controlled by Frenchman Jerome Garces.

"Doing this just makes us look like bad losers. Stop playing the victim," the supporter tells Nel, a former Supersport rugby editor.

Another fan attacked Nel for an "All Black hating narrative", but Nel also had supporters.

Sure Peter, at least it’s not from the side. But the point here is that this is a absolute shocker and proves what everyone, including Rassie, has been saying: NZ are professional cheats, and for some reason the refs don’t do anything ... it’s hard to understand this.

— Champ Strategy (@ChampStrategy) September 22, 2019

There were 2 neck high tackles on Savea yesterday with one going on for a few seconds. Would you like to show that too? I wish we would stop complaining abt referees. He was poor both ways. Doing this just make us look like bad losers. Stop playing the victim

— Regan (@RJStephens77) September 22, 2019

Obviously it’s PSDT’s fault for not being tall enough and running with and invisible ball. pic.twitter.com/EOCMbwvRl1

— Neil Riley (@RipperNR) September 22, 2019

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